Eddy current brake housing for an eddy current brake

Abstract

The invention relates to an eddy current brake housing (10) for an eddy current brake, wherein the eddy current brake housing (10) has an outer housing component (14) which is at least partially formed from at least one thermally insulating outer housing material, wherein the outer housing component (14) at least partially surrounds an inner chamber (16) of the eddy current brake housing (10), in which at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake, a brake disc (18) interacting with the at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake, and at least one section (20a) of a shaft (20) on and / or to which the brake disc (18) is mounted can be arranged or are arranged, and wherein the outer housing component (14) is perforated at least by at least one cooling leadthrough (22), within each of which a cooling connection (24) can be arranged or is arranged, and by an outer housing shaft leadthrough (26a), through which the shaft (20) can be guided or is guided.The invention also relates to an eddy current brake for a vehicle and an eddy current brake system for a vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to an eddy current brake housing for an eddy current brake. The invention also relates to an eddy current brake for a vehicle and an eddy current brake system for a vehicle.Prior ArtEddy current brakes are known from the prior art, such as DE 10 2021 214 867 A1, for example, by means of which a vehicle equipped with such an eddy current brake can be braked.Disclosure of the InventionThe present invention provides an eddy current brake housing for an eddy current brake having the features of claim 1, an eddy current brake for a vehicle having the features of claim 10 and an eddy current brake system for a vehicle having the features of claim 11.Advantages of the InventionThe present invention provides advantageous possibilities for integrating an eddy current brake or an eddy current brake system / eddy current system equipped with the eddy current brake into a thermally insulating housing. In this way, damage to a vehicle component of a vehicle equipped with the eddy current brake, which component is arranged close to the respective eddy current brake, due to heat radiation of heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake, can be reliably prevented. The present invention thus contributes to enhancing a life of vehicle components of the vehicle using them. In addition, the present invention enables a targeted dissipation of the heat generated by means of the operation of the respective eddy current brake as heat flow conducted via the at least one cooling connection to a cooling system of the respective vehicle. Advantageously, the present invention thus enables a cooling system which is conventionally already installed on the respective vehicle and which is also used for cooling further vehicle components to be used for dissipating the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake. Implementation of the present invention is therefore not / hardly associated with additional costs.In an advantageous embodiment of the eddy current brake housing, the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material of the outer housing component has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 25 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by Kelvin)). An untargeted radiation of the heat generated by the operation of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber into an environment can be reliably minimized in this case by means of the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material. In addition, a large number of materials have such a low thermal conductivity, so that the outer housing component can be formed comparatively cost-effectively in the embodiment described here.In particular, the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material of the outer housing component can each have a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 10 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by Kelvin)). By means of the embodiment of the eddy current brake housing described here, a heat radiation of the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber can thus be prevented (substantially).In a further advantageous embodiment, the eddy current brake housing comprises an inner housing component which is formed at least partially from at least one thermally conductive inner housing material, wherein the inner housing component at least partially surrounds the inner chamber of the eddy current brake housing and is at least partially surrounded by the outer housing component of the eddy current brake housing, and wherein the inner housing component is perforated by an inner housing shaft feedthrough through which the shaft is guidable or guided. The inner housing component can thus contribute to improved dissipation of the heat generated by means of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber.Preferably, a respective cooling connection extending through the at least one cooling passage of the outer housing component is connectable or connected to the inner housing component. The inner housing component of the eddy current brake housing thus provides a comparatively large "collecting surface" for the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake, so that the generated heat can be efficiently dissipated via the at least one cooling connection.For example, the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component can each have a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 50 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by kelvin)). The at least one thermally conductive inner housing material can in this case be advantageously used for the effective "collection" of the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber.Preferably, the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 150 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by kelvin)). Since a plurality of materials have such a high thermal conductivity, the provision of the eddy current brake housing with the inner housing component is not / hardly associated with additional costs.Advantageously, the inner housing component can be formed at least partially from aluminum and / or a plastic steel as the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component. The embodiment of the eddy current brake housing described here can therefore be used for effective heat dissipation of the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber and can at the same time be produced comparatively cost-effectively.In a further advantageous embodiment of the eddy current brake housing, the outer housing component and / or the inner housing component are each perforated by at least one line passage in which a line can be arranged or is arranged in each case. Integration of at least the eddy current brake into the inner chamber of the here described embodiment of the eddy current brake housing therefore does not make electrical contacting and / or power supply of the at least one coil of the eddy current brake via the at least one line more difficult.The advantages described above are also realized in an eddy current brake for a vehicle having an eddy current brake housing of this type, wherein at least the at least one coil of the eddy current brake is arranged in the inner chamber of the eddy current brake housing.Furthermore, the advantages explained above are also ensured in an eddy current brake system for a vehicle, which is designed with a corresponding eddy current brake housing, the at least one coil of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber of the eddy current brake housing, the brake disk arranged in the inner chamber and interacting with the at least one coil of the eddy current brake, and the shaft, of which at least the section of the shaft, on and / or on which the brake disk is mounted, is arranged in the inner chamber.Brief Description of the DrawingsFurther features and advantages of the present invention are explained below with reference to the single FIG. 1, which shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the eddy current brake housing.Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the eddy current brake housing.The eddy current brake housing 10 schematically represented in FIG. 1 can be used for an eddy current brake of a vehicle / motor vehicle or for an eddy current brake system / eddy current system of the vehicle / motor vehicle equipped with the eddy current brake. It is expressly noted that a usability of the eddy current brake housing 10 is not limited to any particular eddy current brake type of the eddy current brake or to a particular vehicle type / motor vehicle type of the vehicle / motor vehicle. For the sake of better clarity only the eddy current brake housing 10 and at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake are reproduced in FIG. 1.The eddy current brake housing 10 has at least one outer housing component 14 which at least partially surrounds an inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10. The inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is to be understood as an inner volume in which the at least one coil / winding 12 (only shown schematically), a brake disk 18 interacting with the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake and at least one section 20 aof a shaft 20 on and / or on which the brake disk 18 is mounted can be / are arranged. The arrangeability of the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake, of the brake disk 18 and at least of the section 20 aof the shaft 20 in the inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is preferably to be understood to mean that the at least one coil 12, the brake disk 18 and at least the section 20 aof the shaft 20 are positionable / placed in the inner chamber 16 such that a magnetic field generated by means of energization of the at least one coil 12 can trigger eddy currents in the brake disk 18 such that the brake disk 18 rotating together with the shaft 20 and the shaft 20 are brakeable / braked by means of a braking force caused by the eddy currents. If at least one wheel of the vehicle is mechanically linked to the shaft 20, the at least one mechanically linked wheel can also be braked as well.However, heat is generated in such operation of the eddy current brake. Advantageously, therefore, the outer housing component 14 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is formed at least partially from at least one thermally insulating outer housing material. By means of the eddy current brake housing 10, therefore, undesired heat radiation of the heat generated by the operation of the eddy current brake can be reliably minimized. In this way, at least one vehicle component of the vehicle equipped with the eddy current brake mounted close to the eddy current brake can be protected from damage by heat. The eddy current brake housing 10 therefore contributes to prolonging a life of vehicle components of the vehicle and saving repair costs.In addition, the outer housing component 14 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is perforated by at least one cooling bushing 22, within which a cooling connection 24 can be / is arranged in each case, and by an outer housing shaft bushing 26 a, through which the shaft 20 can be guided or is guided. The at least one cooling connection 24 can therefore be used advantageously for heat dissipation of the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake. In particular, the at least one cooling connection 24 can discharge the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake to a cooling system of the vehicle, wherein the cooling system can advantageously also be used for cooling at least one further vehicle component of the vehicle. Optionally, the at least one cooling connection 24 can be a component of the eddy current brake housing 10 or can be introduced as a unit produced separately therefrom into the respectively associated cooling passage 22. The at least one cooling connection 24 can use, in particular, a heat transfer fluid for heat dissipation.A heat dissipation of the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake from the brake disk 18 via the shaft 20 is therefore not necessary. Instead, due to the advantageous usability of the at least one cooling connection 24, the conventional heat dissipation from the brake disk 18 via the shaft 20 can be dispensed with, whereby at least one bearing (not shown), by means of which the shaft 20 is held, is better protected from heat-induced damage. The formation of the outer housing shaft passage 26 aon the outer housing component 14 also facilitates the arrangement of at least the portion 20 aof the shaft 20 on and / or on which the brake disc 18 is mounted in the inner chamber 16.Preferably, the outer housing component 14 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is formed entirely from the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material. The at least one thermally insulating outer housing material, from which the outer housing component 14 is formed at least partially, preferably completely, can each have a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 25 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by Kelvin)). This prevents undesired untargeted heat radiation of the heat generated by the operation of the eddy current brake. In particular, the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material, from which the outer housing component 14 is formed at least partially, preferably completely, can each have a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 10 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by Kelvin)). Since a large number of materials with such a low thermal conductivity are known, the design of the outer housing component 14 of the eddy current brake housing 10 can be realized comparatively cost-effectively and easily.As an advantageous development, the eddy current brake housing 10 of FIG. 1 also comprises an inner housing component 28, which surrounds the inner chamber 16 at least partially and is surrounded at least partially by the outer housing component 14 of the eddy current brake housing 10. Preferably, the inner housing component 28 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is at least partially formed from at least one thermally conductive inner housing material. It is likewise advantageous if the inner housing component 28 is perforated by an inner housing shaft passage 26 b, through which the shaft 20 is guidable / guided, since this facilitates the integration of at least the section 20 aof the shaft 20, on and / or on which the brake disc 18 is mounted, in the inner chamber 16. It is also advantageous if the at least one cooling connection 24, which extends through the at least one cooling passage 22 of the outer housing component 14, is connectable / connected to the inner housing component 28. If necessary, the inner housing component 28 of the eddy current brake housing 10 provides a comparatively large "collecting surface" for the heat generated by means of the operation of the eddy current brake, so that the generated heat can be dissipated in an effective manner via the inner housing component 28 and the at least one connected cooling connection 24. Therefore, strong heating need not be feared even during a long period of operation of the eddy current brake in the inner chamber 16.The inner housing component 28 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is preferably formed entirely from the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material. Preferably, the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material, from which the inner housing component 28 is formed at least partially, in particular completely, has a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to 50 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by kelvin)). Specifically, the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material from which the inner housing component 28 is formed at least partially, in particular completely, can each have a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 150 W / (m*K) (watts divided by (meters by Kelvin)). Because a variety of materials have such high thermal conductivity, the formation of the inner housing component 28 of the eddy current brake housing 10 is not associated with a significant increase in its manufacturing cost.For example, the inner housing component 28 of the eddy current brake housing 10 may be at least partially formed of aluminum and / or a plastic steel as the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component 28. A complete construction of the inner housing component 28 of the eddy current brake housing 10 from aluminum and / or the plastic steel is possible. Aluminum and / or synthetic steel are comparatively inexpensive materials and can be processed relatively easily. This facilitates an addition of the eddy current brake housing 10 with the advantageous inner housing component 28.As an advantageous development, the outer housing component 14 and / or the inner housing component 28 can each be perforated by at least one line passage (not shown), in which a line (not shown) can be / is arranged in each case. The integration of the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake into the inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10 thus makes neither an electrical contacting nor a power supply of the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake via the at least one line more difficult.The outer housing component 14 and the inner housing component 28 do not need to be understood as separate units. Instead, the eddy current brake housing 10 may also comprise a plurality of walls 10 athat delimit the inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10, wherein the walls 10 aeach have at least one outer coating 14 aand one inner coating 28 a. Optionally, the walls 10a of the eddy current brake housing 10 surround its inner chamber 16 such that the outer coatings 14a of the walls 10a are each directed away from the inner chamber 16 with respect to the inner coating 28a of the respective wall 10a, while the inner coatings 28a of the walls 10a are each directed toward the inner chamber 16 with respect to the outer coating 14a of the respective wall 10a. The outer housing component 14 may optionally be understood to mean an "entirety" of the outer coatings 14 aof the walls 10 a, while the inner housing component 28 is understood to mean an "entirety" of the inner coatings 28 aof the walls 10 a.The inner chamber 16 is preferably surrounded by the inner housing component 28 / the inner coatings 28 aof the walls 10 ain such a way that an outer boundary surface of the inner chamber 16 is exposed only at the inner housing shaft feedthrough 26 band, if the at least one line feedthrough is formed on the inner housing component 28, at the at least one line feedthrough from the inner housing component 28 / the inner coatings 28 aof the walls 10 a. Accordingly, it is preferred if the inner housing component 28 is surrounded by the outer housing component 14 / the outer coatings 14 aof the walls 10 ain such a way that an outer surface of the inner housing component 28 / the inner coatings 28 aof the walls 10 adirected away from the inner chamber 16 is exposed only at the at least one cooling leadthrough 22, at the outer housing shaft leadthrough 26 aand, if the at least one line leadthrough is formed on the outer housing component 14, at the at least one line leadthrough from the outer housing component 14 / the outer coatings 14 aof the walls 10 a.The advantages described above are substantially always realized in an eddy current brake having such an eddy current brake housing 10, wherein at least the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake is arranged in the inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10, and in an eddy current brake system having a corresponding eddy current brake housing 10, the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber 16 of the eddy current brake housing 10, the brake disk 16 arranged in the inner chamber 16 and interacting with the at least one coil 12 of the eddy current brake, and the shaft 20, of which at least one section 20 aof the shaft 20, on and / or on which the brake disk 16 is mounted, is arranged in the inner chamber 16.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2021 214 867 A1

[0002]

Claims

Eddy current brake housing (10) for an eddy current brake, characterized an outer housing component (14) of the eddy current brake housing (10), which is at least partially formed from at least one thermally insulating outer housing material, wherein the outer housing component (14) at least partially surrounds an inner chamber (16) of the eddy current brake housing (10), in which at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake, a brake disc (18) interacting with the at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake and at least one section (20a) of a shaft (20) on and / or on which the brake disc (18) is mounted are arrangeable or arranged, and wherein the outer housing component (14) is perforated by at least one cooling feedthrough (22), within which in each case a cooling connection (24) is arrangeable or arranged, and by an outer housing shaft feedthrough (26a), through which the shaft (20) is guidable or guided.Eddy current brake housing (10) according to Claim 1, wherein the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material of the outer housing component (14) in each case has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 25 W / (m * K).Eddy current brake housing (10) according to Claim 2, wherein the at least one thermally insulating outer housing material of the outer housing component (14) in each case has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 10 W / (m * K).Eddy current brake housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the eddy current brake housing (10) comprises an inner housing component (28) which is formed at least partially from at least one thermally conductive inner housing material, wherein the inner housing component (28) surrounds the inner chamber (16) of the eddy current brake housing (10) at least partially and is surrounded at least partially by the outer housing component (14) of the eddy current brake housing (10), and wherein the inner housing component (28) is perforated by an inner housing shaft feedthrough (26b) through which the shaft (20) is guidable or guided.Eddy current brake housing (10) according to claim 4, wherein a cooling connection (24) extending through the at least one cooling passage (22) of the outer housing component (14) is connectable or connected to the inner housing component (28).The eddy current brake housing (10) of claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component (28) each has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 50 W / (m * K).The eddy current brake housing (10) of claim 6, wherein the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component (28) each has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 150 W / (m * K).The eddy current brake housing (10) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the inner housing component (28) is at least partially formed of aluminum and / or a plastic steel as the at least one thermally conductive inner housing material of the inner housing component (28).Eddy current brake housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer housing component (14) and / or the inner housing component (28) are each perforated by at least one line passage in which a line can be arranged or is arranged in each case.An eddy current brake for a vehicle having an eddy current brake housing (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein at least the at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake is disposed in the inner chamber (16) of the eddy current brake housing (10).An eddy current brake system for a vehicle, comprising: an eddy current brake housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake arranged in the inner chamber (16) of the eddy current brake housing (10); the brake disc (18) arranged in the inner chamber (16) and interacting with the at least one coil (12) of the eddy current brake; and the shaft (20), at least the portion (20a) of the shaft (20) on and / or on which the brake disc (18) is mounted, of which is arranged in the inner chamber (16).

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